Greenbelt fires suspect charged with 9 counts of felony arson

His bond was set at $100,000 for each count.

Author:
Rebecca Flores, Erin Jones

Published:
5:54 PM CST March 8, 2018

Updated:
7:04 PM CST March 9, 2018

Austin Fire officials said a suspect, identified as 37-year-old Daniel Alexander Daugherty, was taken into custody Thursday as they worked to put out several fires in the Barton Creek Greenbelt that they believe were intentionally set, according to the Austin Fire Department.

Austin Fire said Friday that Daugherty was charged with nine separate counts of felony 2 arson (burning of open space land), and his bond was set at $100,000 for each count.

Photo: Austin Police

Suspect in custody with @Austin_Police and AFD Arson Investigators. Crews still working on multiple areas. No structures in danger currently.— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) March 8, 2018

“We had witnesses that actually saw the individual setting the fires," Austin Fire Division Chief Thayer Smith said. "We got a great description from that witness and then later this afternoon APD was able to locate that subject as he came out the Greenbelt area here behind Toys R Us.”Smith said the department believes based on a witness statement that Daugherty allegedly started the fire using a lighter and at "some point did have a bottle of charcoal lighter fuel that he was lighting to fuse fires.”Daugherty now faces multiple counts of second-degree felony arson.

AFD shared in a tweet that they contained a fire at the corner of Bartoncliff and Brookhaven around 11:51 a.m. However, by 1:06 p.m., the AFD tweeted they were working on containing a third and fourth fire in Barton Creek Greenbelt between Barton Springs Pool and Loop 360.

Smith said most of the fires were not moving fast and were relatively small. He added the bigger fires were along a path with trails, which allowed firefighters to get hand hoses down to the area.PHOTOS: AFD works to put out Greenbelt fires

PHOTOS: AFD works to put out Greenbelt fires

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Luckily, Thursday's weather cooperated with fire officials, according to Smith.

"Under different weather conditions, it certainly could have been catastrophic,” Smith said.